Bombing Civilians Is Not a Military Tactic, It’s a War Crime

The recent attacks between Russia and Ukraine have left at least 10 people dead, with Moscow’s forces escalating their use of ballistic missiles to target Ukrainian civilians. The devastating Russian drone attack on a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, which killed 16 people and wounded over 130 others, is the latest example of this shift in tactics.

Russia’s military strategy has shifted from targeting infrastructure and military assets to deliberately terrorizing civilians. This is not just collateral damage; it’s a deliberate attempt to break the will of the Ukrainian people and cripple their ability to resist occupation. By exploiting Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot air defense interceptors, Moscow’s forces can wreak havoc on civilian populations with relative impunity.

The use of ballistic missiles to target railway infrastructure in Kyiv is particularly egregious. These attacks not only threaten civilians but also undermine Ukraine’s ability to function as a sovereign state. By targeting critical infrastructure, Russia’s military aims to strangle the life out of Ukraine’s economy and politics.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s visit to Kyiv highlighted the international community’s awareness of the gravity of the situation. His condemnation of Putin’s “brutal war of aggression” and pledge of additional humanitarian aid for Ukraine were a much-needed rebuke to Moscow’s actions.

However, words alone cannot stop the carnage on the ground. The international community must take concrete steps to support Ukraine in its hour of need. This includes providing more robust military aid, including Patriot air defense systems, as well as increasing economic sanctions against Russia for its war crimes.

Large-scale Russian strikes have become a regular occurrence this summer, with Friday’s attacks following just 24 hours after Moscow pounded Kyiv with scores of missiles and drones in a nighttime assault that killed 16 people. The frequency and brazenness of these attacks suggest that Russia’s military is increasingly desperate to assert its dominance over Ukraine.

The international community must take decisive action to stop the bombing of civilians and hold Russia’s leaders accountable for their crimes. This requires greater coordination and cooperation between nations to support Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression, as well as holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable rather than simply condemning them with words.

The world is sleepwalking into a new era of great power competition, where the old rules of international relations no longer apply. The use of ballistic missiles to target civilian populations is not just a war crime; it’s also a symptom of a deeper malaise in global politics. Germany’s announcement of additional humanitarian aid for Ukraine is welcome news, but it’s only a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed.

The international community must fundamentally shift its approach to conflict resolution and acknowledge that some nations are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, including targeting civilians. The bombing of civilians is not a military tactic; it’s a war crime. And it’s time for the international community to start treating it as such.